Freshly Made Sketches #397

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Kim is our hostess for this week's sketch. It's so much fun to see the different designs from one layout.

And then, if you take a few liberties, like I did this week, it's even a little more different! :)

For today's sketch, I used one of my favorite color combinations (yellow/black) and a set from Unity Stamp Co. called All Hail the QUEEN Bee. Instead of the three circles in the middle, I have three elements/images in each panel. I popped up the sentiment and the panel it is on, and have added texture with an embossing folder and a sparkly gold Honeycomb die from Whimsy Stamps. The bees' wings are sparkly with Nuvo Glitter Pen.

Today is my daughter-in-law's birthday, and while I made a different card to send to her, her special day inspired this one!

I hope you will join us! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

July Release for Picket Fence Studios!

It's an exciting day for Picket Fence Studios - the July Release! There are so MANY amazing products in this release - new stencils, stamps, and coordinating dies!

Today I am sharing two cards that I made for Release Day, and tomorrow I will be posting two more. But I'm sure you want to see the ENTIRE release, so head over to the site and see it all!

First up is the very pretty PEACOCK MANDALA STENCIL. This is a gorgeous stencil that looks beautiful no matter what colors you use. The Design Team has made some amazing projects with this stencil favorite.

I used my Life Changing Blender Brushes with Spun Sugar and Dusty Concord Distress Oxides to bring it to life. 

I added a sentiment from FOREVER & EVER with VersaFine Clair Morning Mist. A little washi tape and some Plum pearls gave this a mix of contemporary and traditional elements.

Next is the brand new FERN PICTURE FRAME. I stamped in Kiwi Kiss (Stampin' Up!) ink on Bristol paper, and used a water brush to blend and color the image from that ink. Once that was dry, I restamped using Old Olive (SU!) ink. The sentiment came from FOREVER & EVER (it's a GREAT sentiment set!). 

I tied a little dark green twine around the card, and added a gingham bow. Again - a combination of more rustic/contemporary and traditional embellishments.

It's a fabulous release, so head over to Picket Fence Studios to see it all! There is so MUCH MORE to check out! And I will see you back tomorrow - it's my birthday, so I hope you will stop by to celebrate with me!

Have You Seen the July Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps?

Today I have another adorable giraffe to share with you from the July Paper Door Kit: GIRAFFES from Whimsy Stamps!

Isn't he cute? I stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne and then colored with Copic markers. I cut him out using the matching die. The background was made using Distress Ink (one color, just a gradient effect by adding more ink), Life Changing Blender Brushes, and the fabulous stencil that comes with the kit.

I popped my little giraffe up on an oval frame backed with vellum, so the design would still show through, and stamped the sentiment to finish.

Grab your kit before they're gone! Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Giraffes in July!

The July Paper Door Kit from Whimsy Stamps is here! And I was thrilled when I saw what it was - GIRAFFES! Many of you know that giraffes are one of my favorite things -- I have been collecting different kinds of giraffe things for over 40 years. Yup. I love 'em! So I am excited about this new kit - even more than usual!

The papers that come in the kit are just so fun - they are double-sided with prints on one and a solid background on the flip side. Perfect matches!

Here are the kit details:
BRAND NEW kit debuting on the 10th of each month
Each kit is a $50+ retail value for only $29.95 plus shipping
EXCLUSIVE 6x6 Whimsy Stamps designer paper pack collections, fun and creative designs on heavy weight paper with a beautiful sheen - 24 double sided sheets
TEN sheets of 8.5x5.5 heavy weight neutral card stock - in black and white
SPECIAL EDITION 4x6 clear stamp set "Giraffes" created exclusively for PAPER DOOR
COMPLEMENTING "Giraffes" outline die set to easily cut out the images from the 4 x 6 stamp set, designed exclusively for PAPER DOOR
SPECIAL EDITION "Zebra Stripes" mini background rubber stamp and "Giraffe" stencil introduced especially for PAPER DOOR
PRIVATE access to PDF files with step-by-step instructions for at least 4 different projects

Each kit is a LIMITED EDITION and individual items may or may not be released at a later date. Supplies are limited so order yours today, and unlock your creativity with Whimsy Stamps PAPER DOOR kits!

Thanks for stopping by!

Challenges:
Creative Moments - Anything Goes  
Polkadoodles - ANYTHING GOES

Freshly Made Sketches #396

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Linda is our hostess for this week's sketch, and it has room for lots of possibilities!

For today's sketch, I used one of my favorite color combinations (pink/gray/black) and a sentiment from Picket Fence Studios called Live Happy. I stamped it onto my Martha Stewart Fog cardstock with VersaMark ink, and then embossed with WOW! embossing powder. To follow the sketch, I scored on each side, and then added some contemporary washi tape inside the score lines. I wanted a no-frills look, but added three sequins for a little sparkle and fun.

I hope you will join us! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

Other challenges:

• Crafty Sentiment Designs - Add A Sentiment

Stay Grounded

Hello stamping friends! It's a Mixed Media day here on my blog. 

Today's card uses one of my "clean up" sheets for my brayer from when I make monoprints. As you're reading this, I am probably in my craft room making them. My sister is visiting and we love to se our Gel Press to make awesome stuff!

I don't really clean the brayer, I just roll it on a piece of cardstock until all of the paint is off. All colors, any combination of colors. This one had pink, teal, and green paint. I save those sheets then, and use them for another time. 

This particular sheet made the most amazing sky for my tree images from Visible Image. I am guest designing with them for the summer and am having such fun. 

I stamped the two different tree scenes from Into the Woods in black and teal inks, and then embossed with clear embossing powder. 

I stamped the sentiments separately on another part of the saved brayered cardstock. Kind of a fun way to make a cool sky scene! The teal panel was randomly stamped with VersaMark using one of the textures from Mesh-ellaneous. 

Hope you enjoyed this look at using "trash" and making treasure!

The Rainbow Card Challenge: Blue Breezes

We've got a fun, summery challenge this month at The Rainbow Card Challenge! It's Blue Breezes! Doesn't that sound like summertime? I guess it makes me think of the breeze across the water and all of the activities going on at beaches and lakes. And of course you have to have someone there to document it all with their camera!

For this card, I used three different stamp sets from Picket Fence Studios: Marti Girl, Natural State of Sarcasm, and Polka Dot Grunge. I off stamped the Polka Dot Grunge using a Distress Oxide Ink and my MISTI for the background, and added a strip of washi tape to ground it. The sentiment was stamped in VersaFine Clair Nocturne, as was Marti Girl. I colored her flower to match the background, and popped her up with foam tape.

Come join us and show us your blues this month!

Other challenges:

• A Place To Start - ANYTHING GOES
• Artistic Inspirations - #216 ANYTHING GOES

Creativity with Visible Image

Hello friends!
I am thrilled to be Guest Designing with Visible Image this summer! I absolutely love their stamps and am happy to share my first project for them on my blog today. 

I am sharing a more CAS collage using Creative Chaos from Visible Image. I blended three ink colors using the Picket Fence Studios Life Changing Brushes, and then stamped my large flower using VersaFine Clair Nocturne. The flower was colored using the same blending technique with the lightest ink. 

I stamped other elements from the set using VersaMark and VersaFine Smoky Gray. It was cool because the watermark ink changed color, according to which blended ink it hit.

The last thing I did was stamp the sentiment. I chose a contrasting color for the panel behind, and then adhered all to my black card base. 

I hope you will stop back and see another Visible Image project tomorrow! You can see other Visible Image projects HERE.

Freshly Made Sketches #394

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Jen T. is our hostess for this week's sketch, and it has room for lots of possibilities!

For today's sketch, I used one of my monoprints made with acrylic paints and a Gel Press. I chose one that reminded me of stage lights, I thought it went well with the silhouette images from Picket Fence Studios. Those were stamped with VersaFine Clair Nocturne - a little hard sometimes to get that ink to adhere to paint, but it worked! The sentiment is from Tim Holtz. Kind of a fun, sassy card. I finished off with two kinds of washi tape around the sentiment.

 

I hope you will join us! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!

Other challenges:

• Artistic Inspirations - #216 ANYTHING GOES
• Dragonfly Dreams - For a Man/Boy

Stand Alone Word Dies

Happy Monday! I can’t believe that NEXT Monday is JULY! Goodness, the summer is flying by. And it’s been a LOVELY one here so far. This week will be high 80’s and sunshine – finally a respite from all the rain we have been having. But rain brings happiness to the flowers and makes them lovely – just like these flowers today with the LOVELY WORD DIE from Picket Fence Studios.

I want to show two different cards today, each using Ruffled Peony Bouquet (previously released) and one of the new word dies from the June release. First up is a watercolored bouquet.

I added layers of Kuretake Gansai Tambi paint, and then cut the word alone out of black cardstock. For easy placement, and to keep it straight, I used the negative piece of cardstock and lay my pieces in as I glued them to the watercolored piece.

Next is an uncolored image I showed previously on Release Day using the same Ruffled Peony Bouquet, and the Lovely Word die with its “shadow base.” I stamped the bouquet with VersaFine Clair Nocturne, and then made the center panel using red and white cardstock. It gives two totally different looks, don’t you think?

I know it’s a die I will be using often! Check out the entire June release for another fabulous new stand alone word die, along with some crazy awesome stencils, stamps, and dies!

Freshly Made Sketches #393

It's Wednesday and time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Lee Ann is our hostess for this week's sketch. 

 

I am sending this card to my son. He preached an amazing sermon on heaven a couple of Sundays ago ("Good Heavens"), and I loved his points about "wonder" (the series' title). You can find his sermon video HERE. Definitely worth a listen.

I made my card using a watercolor piece I had "doodled" in a sunny yellow. I used gold washi tape and black cardstock for the under layers. The stamp is from Unity Stamp Co. I thought it was a perfect fit to reiterate what he was saying in his sermon, and to thank him for his message! He mentions some answers to prayer for our family, and for me personally, and I am so thankful for the power of prayer.

I hope you will join us! Our challenge is open until 3 PM EDT on Monday! Click on the links on the FMS blog by each photo to see what my teammates have created on their blogs!